The report by a news agency that the Sundarbans, the world's largest mangrove forest, is turning into a 'sanctuary for poachers' is indeed terrifying. The forest is supposed to be a sanctuary for its vast flora and fauna.

Finally, the forest department employees who safeguard the world's largest mangrove forest, Sundarbans, have been brought under risk allowance. The financial benefit will be equivalent of the 30 percent of their basic salaries.

The High Court directs the government not to approve any industry within 10 kilometres in the Sundarbans area. The court also ordered the government to submit a list of the industries and factories set up within the 10 kilometres in the area to this court within ten months.

In yet another blow to the Sundarbans, the government has decided to approve all industrial structures currently operating in the Ecologically Critical Area (ECA) of the mangrove forest, essentially legalising more than 150 illegal structures.

Experts have expressed concern over the depleting Bengal tiger population in the Sundarbans as the number of tiger attacks in and around the mangrove forest has gone down significantly in recent years.

The World Heritage Committee of Unesco has withdrawn its earlier objection to the construction of Rampal power plant project at its current location near the Sundarbans, says a foreign ministry press release.

Environmental activists once again urge the government to backtrack from its plan to implement the Rampal power plant project or else the world’s largest mangrove forest the Sundarbans will be in danger.

The critics of Rampal include environmentalists, scientists and experts. Yet, the defence for the power plant has remained the same. But, under scrutiny, how do these claims, meant to relieve us of our fears about the potential risks of the power plant, hold?

Despite the government's assurance that the Rampal power plant would not harm the Sundarbans, the Unesco stays firm in its stance against the project and has again requested the government to cancel and relocate it to a more suitable place.

The government has taken up a project to dredge the Pashur river so that coal-laden vessels from India can travel through it to Rampal Power Plant to be set up only 14 kilometres away from the Sundarbans.